Outboard motor clamp



Dec. 7, 1948. P. M. HALLER 2,455,573

I OUTBOARD MOTOR CLAMP Filed March 27, 1947- INVENTOR a ATTORNEYS.

a movement of the clamping screw,

Patented Dec. 7, 1948 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE OIIFIBOKRD MOTOR CLAMP Pearl M. Haller, Bay City, Mich.

v Application March 27, 1947, Serial No 737,445

r This invention relates to clamps designed primarily for use in securing or clampingput-board motors to (their supports, the primary object of the invention being to provide a clamp which will securely holdan outboard motor in position i against becoming \loosenedrordisplaced, due to caused by vibrations of the motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamp OflthiS character which may be readily and easily manipulated, to permit. the motor forming a part thereof, to be positioned or removed with facility.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a clamp constructed in accordance with the invention, the clamp being shown partly in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a modified form of clamp.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 indicates the transom of a boat to which the clamp is secured.

The clamp includes the body portion 6, which provides a jaw I and an arm 3 spaced from the jaw I, the arm 8 being formed with a threaded bore to accommodate the screw 9. The screw 9 is formed with a head ID that fits in a socket of the adjustable clamp ll carried at the inner end of the screw, the clamp cooperating with the jaw I in clamping the transom 5. The head. Ii! and socket in clamp 9 are so constructed that a .binding action is set up between the head H1 and socket to further insure against rotation of the screw 9.

The outer end of the threaded bore formed in the arm 8, is counter-sunk to accommodate the tapered end I2 of the winged jamb-nut 13, which when positioned, will set up a binding action between the threads of the screw 9 and threaded bore of the arm 8, to hold the screw 9 against rotation.

The outer end of the screw 9 is provided with a cross bar t4, whereby the screw may be readily operated.

Supported within bearings formed under the 4. Claims. (01. 248-4) body portion s, is a shaft 15, on whichthe Jocks ing finger I6 is fixedly mounted, the finger :being normallyheld in its inactive or unl'ocked :position by means of the spring H, which is :shown as extendingaround :the shaft t5, the intermediate portion thereof bearingagainst the-finger. f

A gear I8 is formed with internal threads and is secured on the inner threaded end. of the screw 9, the gear [:8 adapted to accommodateone end of the locking finger 1-5 to preventrotary movement of the gear I8 and screw 9, after it has been set.

The arm [9 provides the supporting arm between the clamp and motor, not shown, the arm l9 being pivotally mounted on the shaft 8 disposed at the upper end of the arm 8.

Secured to the shaft 8 directly under the arm I9, is a finger l6 which is disposed at an approximately 45 angle with respect to the finger IS, the finger "5' being engaged by the arm 8 when locked, to move the shaft 8 and finger Hi, the finger l6 moving to engage between teeth of the gear [8. While it is customary to use two of these clamps and screws 9 with each engine support, I have only shown one of such clamps, the other clamp being mounted in parallel relation with the clamp shown, and the corresponding arm l9 of the adjacent clamp structure is mounted on the shaft 8'.

From the foregoing itwill be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided a clamp for clamping out-board motors to boats, the clamping mechanism being locked against displacement due to loosening of the clamps by vibrations of the motor when in operation.

When the motor is not in operation, it is swung upwardly in the usual manner, whereupon the locking finger I6 becomes disengaged with the gear 18, to permit of the operation of the screw 9 to remove the device.

In the form of the invention as shown by Figure 3 of the drawing, a clamp is shown as comprising an arm 20 adapted to fit over the upper edge of the boat transom, the arm being formed with a threaded opening, which is counter-sunk to receive the tapered end of the nut 2|, through which the screw 22 operates, the screw carrying the clamp 23 at its forward end.

As the screw is operated to cause the clamp 23 to grip the transom, the nut 2| will be operated to secure the screw against reverse movement to release the clamp.

Having thus' described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A device for removably clamping a motor to a boat, comprising a U-shaped main clamping member including an arm having a, threaded opening, said main clamping member adapted to fit over a beam of a boat, a screw operating through the threaded opening of the arm, a clamp mounted on the inner end of the screw and adapted to clamp the beam of the boat, a pivoted arm mounted on the main clamping member'to which the motor is secured, a gear secured to the screw, and a finger operated by the movement of the motor supporting arm, adapted to engage the gear, preventing rotary movement of the screw.

2. A device for removably clamping a motor to a boat, comprising a main clamping member including an arm having a threaded opening, a clamp screw operating through the threaded opening, a clamp swiveled on the innerend of the clamping member and cooperating with the clamping member in clamping a boat transom, a gear secured to the screw, an arm pivotaliy connected with the main clamping member and to which the motor is secured, and a locking finger movable with the pivoted arm and adapted to engage the gear, preventing rotary movement of the gear when the arm is in its lowermost position, thereby restricting rotation of the gear and clamp screw.

3. A device for removably clamping a motor to a boat, comprising a U-shaped clamping member including an arm having a threaded opening,

Number a clamp screw operating through the threaded opening, a clamp swiveled on the inner end of the clamp screw and adapted to cooperate with the clamp in securing the clamp to the transom of a boat, a gear secured to the clamp screw, a pivoted arm secured to the clamping member and operating above the gear, a pivoted finger operated by said arm and adapted to move into engagement with the teeth of the gear, preventing rotation of the gear and clamp screw.

4. A device for removably clamping a motor to a boat, comprising a clamping member including' an arm having a threaded opening, a clamp screw operating through the threaded opening of the arm, a clamp swiveled to one end of the clamp screw and adapted to be moved into engagement with a boat transom over which the clamp is positioned, securing the clamp to the boat transom, an arm pivotally connected with the clamp and to which the motor is attached, and means operated by the pivoted arm for securing the screw clamp against rotation.

PEARL M. HALLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Nov. 1, 1905 in the 

